Then they also which are fallen a sleep in Christ are perished If in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable ver 18.19 Whereas on the contrary if we be established in these points That there shall be a resurrection And that Christ is the Author and efficient of it then it followes That Jesus is the Christ the son of God which should come into the world And that whosoever believeth in him shall never die As will farther appear in the handling of the second doctrinall observation to which now I come and it is this Such as do sincerly believe in Christ are the only proper and adequate Subject of the resurrection and the life Or Such as do sincerely believe in Christ are they and they only who by the power of Christ are or shall be raised from death to life spiritual and eternall I do not say that believers are the only adequate subject of the resurrection Dan. 12.2 13 as if none should rise but they The wicked shall rise also but to the resurrection of condemnation But I say that belivers are the only proper and adequate subject of the resurrection and the life or of the resurrection to life spirituall and eternall He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life The hour is comming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the son of man shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life Joh. 5.24 28 29. And this is the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Joh 6.40 They and only they shall rise and die no more whosoever believeth in me shall never die Joh. 11.26 Only such as have a part in the first resurrection are they over whom the second death shall have no power Rev. 20.6 Because they only have received that immortall seed and principle of spirituall and eternall life He that believeth on him that sent me hath ever lasting life and shall not come into condemntion but is passed from death to life Joh. 5.24 2 Because of their near relation to God They that shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead cannot die any more for they are equall unto the Angels and are the children of God being the children of the resurrection Luk. 20.35 36. 3 Because of their near relation unto Jesus Christ they are members of his body being ingrafted into him by faith and therefore they shall rise with him Jsa 26.19 With my body shall they arise Whence they are said to be begotten again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Pet. 1.3 And if we believe saith the Apostle that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Thes 4.14 They only are given of God the father unto Jesus Christ And this saith he is the will of the father which sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day Joh. 6.39 Which he will do accordingly v. 40 44. 4 They only have attained to that grace which sets all other means on worke and renders them effectuall and that is faith which is that grace which is the resurrection of the soul and in a â—ort enlivens the soul gives life unto the life Though not of it self but by vertue of its object which is Jesus Christ â—aith is the vessel by which we draw water but of the wells of salvation the conduit pipe by which we conveigh home to out own souls that life which is in Christ This point is of use to informe us Use 1 1 Who they are alone to whom Jesus Christ is the resurrection and life and they are only believers 2 What it is alone that makes any one capable of an interest in the resurrection and the life by Christ and that is faith 3 What we must be if we will have Christ to be such even the resurrection and the life to us we must be believers We must be ingrafted into Christ by faith we must be members of his body if we will be partakers of of his resurrection We must be in covenant with him and to that end we must by true and unfained repentance breake off and dissanull our covenant with sin and that with Loathing and abhorrency as that which will infallibly hinder and dissolve all union and communion between Christ and our souls We must also by a ready chearfull and sincere obedience serve and glorify God in whom we professe to believe If we be believers indeed we must evidence it by our living the life of faith even by adding works to our faith Gal. 5.6 Jam. 2.17 c. it must be a faith working by love Faith without workes is dead shew me thy faith by thy works Use 2 This is a word of terror unto unbelievers In asmuch as they may know from hence that they have neither part nor lot in this matter Non dicitur de mortuis lege naturae separatione animae accorporis sed de his qui pecato mortui sunt Hieron in Isaias c. 26 1 Jesus Christ is not the resurrection and the life to them They are dead they shall notlive they are diseased they shall rise all their memory shall perish Isa 26.14 They are dead in their sins and continuing such they cannot live the life of grace shall not live the life of glory He will indeed raise them up again but it will be only as a judge calling them out of their graves as Malefactors out of their prisons to appear before him to receive their sentence only as hath been said to the resurrection of condemntion Joh. 5.29 Where by unbelievers I do not understand only Jews and Heathens Turks and such like infidels which never made a profession of the name of Christ But also such as though they professe that they know God yet in their works deny him And even of such the Apostle saith that they are abominable and disobedient and to every good work reprobate Tit. 1.16 These may be Christians in name and outward profession but unbelievers yea worse then infidels in deed To such I may spake in the words of the prophet Amos ch 5.18 Wo unto you that desire the day of the Lord to what end is it for you the day of the Lord is darknesse and not light even very dark and no brightnesse in it And as another prophet speaketh in a like case The mighty man shall cry there bitterly That day is a day of wrath a day of trouble and distresse a day of wasting and desolation a day of darknesse and gloominesse a day of clouds and thick darkness Zeph. 1.14 15. But alas many
God of Israel it is not forgotten Be you therefore perswaded to be alwayes doing of more good your selves lest you should be found guilty of the same neglect you condemn in others And intreat the Lord with all earnestness that whereever he gives a large estate he would also give a large heart or else it is but in vain for us to looke for a large hand I hope that which hath been spoken may be of some use for the support of such as are mourning over their dead But yet if any shall exceed the last observation raised from the text relatively considred may be of some advantage to them Which is this When any are apt to exceed in mourning over their friends dead body wishing it might be restored again to life temporal It is seasonable to mind them of the most effectual meanes of raising up their own dead souls unto life spiritual and eternal Thus dealt Jesus Christ with Martha here she is ever minding and speaking of the death of her brother and of the raising up of his body And Christ takes her off to a more serious and profitable consideration of the spirituall and in some respect dead estate of her own soul and of the meanes of quickning and raising it up to the perfection of life spiritual and eternal And believe it this is the greatest concernment we have to look after even the resurrection of our souls and to that end we are to lay hold upon Christ by faith which is the only means of raising up and quickning dead souls He that live and believeth in me shall never die Believest thou this saith Jesus Christ to Martha Thou hearest that Christ is the resurrection of the body from death temporall and of death spiritual and eternall and that he that believeth in him shall never die but doest thou believe Believest thou this What would it have availed Martha if Christ should have raised up Lazarus his dead body frow the grave and have left her own foul to lie dead in sin And what would it availe us if Christ should now raise our dead friend to life temporall and not raise our dead souls unto life eternall Let us stirre up our selves to take hold on God let us live the life of faith and we shall be so far from being over grieved at the death of our friend that we shall joyfully entertain our own We shall be as willing to leave the world as the tired mariner is to leave the sea after he hath been spent with the tediousness of a long dangerous voyage after he hath passed many a painfull day and tedious night and bitter storme with much longing expexctation and yet sees no land If at length he once more comes within ken of that his whished shore how is he then ready to leap for joy and to cry out with him in the poet Italiam Italiam primus conclamat Achates Virg. Aneid l. 3. Oh my friends my companions be of good chear behold I see I see that so long lookt for and desired shore Behold yonder is the place of our rest the habitation of our parents and wives and children and kinred and friends It seems to me as if I saw how they rejoyce at our arrivall Oh slack not but hast that we may be in their bosomes Even so is it with the dying believer he is come within sight of heaven and is ready to cry out with Steven even then when his enraged enemies were round about him and that cut to the heart and gnashing on him with their teeth He can then cry out and say looking up stedfastly unto heaven Behold I see the heavens opened and the son of man standing on the right hand of God How willing and cheerfull is he to bid the troublesom inconstant and envious world adieu being now ready to enter into that haven of rest the armes of his saviour Let us be sound and stedfast in the faith let us be servent in charity constant lively and a bounding even to the full assurance of hope Let us live in a conscionable and cheerfull exercise of every grace and let patience have her perfect work for asmuch as we know in so doing our labour will not be in vain in the Lord. This will evidence that we have our part in the first resurrection and blessed and holy are such for over them the second death shall have no power FINIS Curteous READER These bookes following are printed for and sold by Edward Prwster at the Crane in Pauls Church-yard 1661. MR. Elton his Commentary on the 7.8 9. Chap. of the Romans foll Mr. Hildersham his 108. Lectures on 4th Iohn foll Mr. Hildersham his Lectures on 51. Psal foll Mr. Georg Newton his Commentary on Iohn 17. foll Dr. Iermium on all the Proverbs foll Bp. Williams his right way to the best Religion wherein at large is explayned the principle heads of the Gospel foll The Largest Church Bible foll Mr. Pryns Hidden works of darknesse brought to light foll Mr. Ball his Treatise of the nature and life of faith 4. Mr. Ball his larg and small Catt 8. Mr. Bonthams Christian conflict Mr. Baxter of Crucifying the world by the crosse of Christ 4. Dr. Burges several select sermons preched before the Parliament 4. A collection of several select sermons preched before the Parliament 4. Mr. Cawdrey of the Inconsistency of the Independent way with Scripture and its self 4. Mr. Cawdrey he Answers to G. Firmium about Baptisme The Agreement of the associated Ministers of Essex and Chester Canans Calamity or the destruction of of Ierusalem 4. Mr. Coohe learned Treatise of Babtisme 4. Mr. Collye of the Salbate and against free admission to the sacrament severall sermons of Mr. Paul Baycon Mr. Barlowes guid to Glory 4. Mr. Calvin on Ieremiah 4. Mr. Negus of faith and obediance 4. Mr. Ienkins sermons 4. Mr. Ienkins his answer to Iohn Goodwin 4. Mr. Gattaker against Lilly 4. Galleni Opuscula Varia Annotonic 4. Spelinam consilia foll Spelinam Psalterium Saxonicum 4. Mr. Geree against Anababtists 4. Mr. Josselynes state of the Saints departed Gods cordiall to comfort the Saints remaining a live 8. Mr. Randoll on 8th Romans 4. Mr. Randoll on the Church 4. Dr. Hollidayes Motives to a good life in ten sermons 4. Mr. Rutherfords divine right of Church Government 4. Dr. Potter of the Number 666. 4. There is now in the presse a book entituled Fides Catholica or a vindication of the Church of England c. by Mr. William Annand Minister of Gods word at Leighton in Bedford-shere
righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption his meaning is that Jesus Christ is he that doth make us wise and righteous and holy c. So here when Christ saith I am the resurrection it is as if he had said I am he that doth raise the dead Martha had said concerning her brother I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day And Christ replyeth in effect Thou mayest as well believe that he may be raised now Per quem tunc resurget po test modo quia ego sum resurrectio August since he is present by whom he shall be raised then for saith he I am the resurrection and I can as easily do it now as then I am the resurrection and the life first the resurrection and then the life quia prior est restitutio a morte in vitam quam vitae status Calvin the restoring from death to life is before the state of life The resurrection from the death of sin must go before the life of grace and the resurrection both from death temporall and death spirituall must go before a full enjoyment of the life of glory This may suffice for the opening of the terms of the first proposition I come now unto the Second He that believeth in me shall live In which proposition we have the proper subject of the resurrection and the life He that believeth the act that qualifieth and diposeth that subject and that is faith The object that gives life and virtue to that act and that is Christ he that believeth in me And lastly the grace that is promised to reward and crown it and that is life He that believeth in me shall live The subject of the resurrection in generall is that which is fallen as hath been said The subject of the resurrection at the day of judgement are the dead bodies universally both of good and bad The subject of the resurrection and the life or from the death of sin to life spirituall and eternall are all and only the elect which the father hath given unto Christ for all they and only they do come unto him by faith Joh. 6.35 37 39 40 44 47 53 54. All and only they do performe that act whereby they become fitly qualified and disposed to partake of such a grace And that not only in generall way as they are a body but every one for himself every one that is thus to be raised by Christ is to believe for himself The just shall live by faith Therefore he saith He that believeth in me And yet he spakes indefinitly so that it is all one as if he had said every one that believeth in me as Joh. 6.40 or whosoever believeth in me as in the next verse after the text Which notes also the object of faith Jesus Christ And to receive and rest upon him as the Christ the son of God as the only author of life and Salvation is to belive in him as appears by Martha in her answer v. 27. which is also the same with Peters Mat. 16.16 And He that beliveth in Christ is every one that by a true faith doth lay hold and rest upon Christ for life and salvation And he that thus believeth in him shall live that is shall live spiritually and eternally He shall forthwith receive that life which shall never have an end He shall never die that is spiritually and eternally This also may serve for the unfolding of the terms of the second proposition I come in the third place to the amplification of the power of Christ in these words Though he were dead yet shall he live Wherein he sets forth the exceeding greatnesse of his power in regard of the extent of it and that 1 In respect of the quantity or number of those that are to be raised up be their multitude never so great howsoever dispersed of whatsoever nation kinred or tribe whether Jews or Gentiles Barbarians Scythians bond or free 2 In respect of their quality be their condition never so desperate yet he that believeth whosoever believeth every one that believeth Though he were dead yet shall he live That is say some Though he were dead in the body Piscat in loc yet shall he live again the body unto life eternall Menoch in loc as he that believeth not shall rise again but unto death eternall Or though he were dead Cartw. Metaph. in loc yet seing I am the resurrection and the life if it be for the glory of God I can and will as often as I please restore him unto life again nether need I stay for the last day There are others that understand it especially of the spiritual death of the soul Calvin Maldonat or of the souls being dead in sin and by the power of Christ to be quickned to a new and spirituall life yet not without respect to the body which though dead naturally yet by his power should be raised up again But which way soever of these two the words are to be understood there may arise a doubt 1 If Christ speakes of the death of the body how doth he require faith of the dead can the dead believe The dead praise not the Lord neither any that go down into silence Psal 115.17 And as they can not praise him so neither can they believe in him In death there is no remembrance of him Psal 6.5 They that goe downe into the pit cannot hope for thy truth Isaiah 38.18 2 If he speake of the spiritual death of the soul by sin and of the raising up of such to the life of grace what is this to the businesse in hand The question is of restoring life to Lazarus his dead body and he speaks of giving life to the soul that is dead in sin For answer unto these there is no doubt but that Christ's answer to Martha is both proper and pertinent though every one may not so readily apprehend it But to the doubts themselves To the first we may say that he doth not require faith of the dead sensu composito that is that those that are dead in body should believe but of the living as if he should have said He that while he liveth doth believe in me though he were even now dead yet shall he be raised up again and live in the body and that eternally and thus he seemes to explain himself in the very next words where he saith whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die Again when he saith though he were dead yet shall he live it is to note either his omnipotency in that he can and will give life unto him and cause even the dead to live Or that although he be dead in respect of us yet he is still alive in respect of Christ in whom all believers live and shall never die And thus he is to be understood when he saith of Lazarus his sicknesse that was not unto death v. 4. and